The Official Anthem
Throughout the years, many different versions were played and sung at the Olympics.
Finally, in 1958, the International Olympic Committee adopted one version
as the official anthem of the Olympic games.

The loose rendition of Palamas's poem that
appears below is the English
version that has been sung at every Olympic games since 1958:

Immortal Spirit of antiquity,
Father of the true, beautiful, and good,
Descend, appear, shed over us Thy light
Upon this ground and under this sky

Which has first witnessed Thy imperishable fame.
Give life and animation to those noble games!
Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors
In the race and in strife!

Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!
Shine in a roseate hue and form a vast temple
To which all nations throng to adore Thee,
O immortal Spirit of antiquity.

The Olympic anthem is played as the Olympic flag is raised during the opening cermony.